Amazon Watch

Indians clash with armed police in Peru

June 14, 2009 | Sarah Smith | Channel 4 News

Peru’s Amazonian Indians are fighting government moves to turn Peru into an oil superpower by allowing big business to drill for oil and gas in areas they say are their ancestral lands.

Up to 100 people have been killed this week alone in clashes between the Indians and armed police.

But now the Indians have won a small victory of sorts the government has suspended its plans for three months until order is restored.

Much of the violence happened near the town of Bagua but few of the bodies of the dead have been found.

Many indigenous families believe Peru’s security forces have hidden them.

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